WASHINGTON (CNN) - A Republican congresswoman said Monday on the House floor that she believes Americans have more to fear from the Democrats' health care bill "than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."

Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina said people in her home district tell her they are frightened of the health care bill expected to be debated by the House as soon as this week.

"I share that fear, and I believe they should be fearful," Foxx said, "And I believe the greatest fear that we all should have to our freedom comes from this room - this very room - and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax increase bill masquerading as a health care bill.

"I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."

The Democratic National Committee immediately criticized Foxx, calling her comments "outrageous" and comparing them to Sarah Palin's previous warning about death panels in regard to a Democratic proposal for voluntary counseling on living wills and other end-of-life decisions.

"Sadly, these inexplicable comments represent what is now the mainstream of a Republican Party that has been hijacked by an extremist far right-wing faction that craves ideological purity, will purge dissent, and offer nothing but reactionary opposition to progress," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said in a statement.
Aaron Groen, a spokesman for Foxx, said she was speaking "off the cuff" in her comments in the House chamber.

At a later news conference, House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio responded to a question about Foxx's remarks by saying that "members are entitled to their opinions."

When pressed, Boehner shrugged, then turned to House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, R-Indiana, and said: "This is when they get the Boehner shrug."

Pence later told CNN he had no comment on Foxx's "particular turn of phrase, but I will say, around Indiana, out around this country, people are very, very concerned about an effort to launch a new government run insurance plan."

"I think that people in Washington sometimes don't always get how concerned the American people are about borrowing and spending and the deficits," Pence said. "It is generating strong emotions. Members of Congress are not immune from those strong emotions, but I have to say that the people's House ought to resonate with what's happening in the hearts and minds of the American people."

soundoff(189 Responses)

No. Its the honorable Representative Foxx that is scarier than terrorism.

November 2, 2009 11:49 pm at 11:49 pm |

Michelle

From what I have read about the bill, the federal government is not going to run anything...the states are. More lies from the right, but I don't think they know the difference any more.

November 2, 2009 11:49 pm at 11:49 pm |

Mike in Texas

Have you heard this woman's past comments? She is scary. What is scarier is that people actually elected her. If she is the best her district can offer that is sad.

It is funny, Boehner says that members of the house are entitled to their opinions but didn't the Republicans call for an apology from Grayson.

So all of you agreeing with her, it is her OPINION, not fact. Don't get the two confused. The problem we have in America is too many people get on the air and tell us their opinion and many Americans take it as fact.

November 2, 2009 11:50 pm at 11:50 pm |

SAVVY OLDTIMER

I'll tell you what's scarier than any terrorist,... the mug on this pruneface.

November 2, 2009 11:52 pm at 11:52 pm |

Nik Kripalani

I am happy that people are finally having a proper debate. No shouting or screaming allowed. I listened to both sides carefully, I understand that no one wants a government to be in a health care reform bill or a public option which is what I asked for, if don't get it, then I will be sick the rest of my life. I want people to face facts.

So just tone it the language down and simplify it or put it in La-men terms that the average person can understand it that bill is 5020 pages long, if I read it i would edit some wording and make it easy to read.

November 2, 2009 11:56 pm at 11:56 pm |

Troy

To the Republicans, all I have to say is... Where's your Bill?
What have you supplied as an alternative?

All of you have said that there needs to be health care reform, but you're not willing to supply anything that supports your claim.

Where's your bill. Please... Show us something other than conflict and negativity. Show us that you actually care about the health and general well being of this country. Not just fear, war, and corruption. Because, that's all we've seen for the past 8yrs.

November 2, 2009 11:57 pm at 11:57 pm |

Mike in Texas

This woman voted against relief funding for Katrina victims. Only 11 voted against it. She also voted against extending the Voting Rights Act. Only 33 voted against. She has taken over a quarter million dollars from Health Insurance companies. Also taken over a quarter million dollars from Big AgriBusiness and consistently votes against the family farmer.
So all of you praising her, you should be ashamed of yourselves. She is as corrupt, if not more than most congress people.

November 2, 2009 11:58 pm at 11:58 pm |

Okiesrazor

The Peoples Republic of North Carolina need government healthcare
urgently , as do all southern states , this women does not represent the poor & needy in her own state or this country . As a Conservative Democrat ( Oxymoron ) , I want my tax dollars to go toward helping those who have no means of helping theirselves .

November 3, 2009 12:00 am at 12:00 am |

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx

Healthcare paid by tax payers is great for her but anything else is terrorism for American citizens. The Taliban is alive and well inside the Republican Party.

November 3, 2009 12:01 am at 12:01 am |

Phil

The DNC is asking for the public to believe and trust in a federal government, made up of Republicans and Democrats alike, that has run Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security into the ground to trust them with health care as well. I DON'T THINK SO. Anybody with half a brain should be running from any government that wants to take such steps. Our futures have already been leveraged in mass amounts of debt and both the federal and state governments continue to run record deficits on a balance sheet already awash in red ink. Stop the insantiy. Social medicine will be the straw to break this camel's back. The American public, Republican and Democrat alike, is being taken advantage of by the powers that be.

November 3, 2009 12:10 am at 12:10 am |

Lauren Anderson

All of you who keep chanting the "lies and fear" mantra, try reading some of the bill, or even a summary of it. Rep. Foxx is right; this bill would not only significantly increase taxes, the deficit, and the bureaucracy, it would limit your health care choices AND drive the cost of health care up at the same time. This is the ultimate lose-lose solution to a problem that really needs solving. There are some simple, inexpensive solutions that will improve things, but the current leadership isn't talking about them. Why?

November 3, 2009 12:11 am at 12:11 am |

Ed

These people have no idea what its like to have to select an insurance plan every year because the company you work for keeps having to shop around for the best rates (that keep increasing; though at least I am lucky to have health insurance). They have people that do this for them (I'm pretty sure we pay for it). They are not like you and me and it sickens me when I hear them talk about the struggling middle class. Lets face it, these guys are in the lap of luxury, and its no wonder that they want things to stay the same. We need medicare for all.

November 3, 2009 12:12 am at 12:12 am |

ERD in NYC

I am from NC (though moved quite a while back) and it amazes me how Foxx keeps getting elected–everyone thinks she's a complete joke.

November 3, 2009 12:15 am at 12:15 am |

Jay Baum

If the Democrats/Obama want people to get behind the plan and support it then they need to put ALL the details out there for public scrutiny for ninety days before voting. They need to allow for REAL independent scoring of the COSTS. They also need to make a simple laundry list showing WHERE the money is coming from and WHAT existing programs will be cut. To blindly support a plan that you know nothing about is naive at best and worst possibly dangerous to the freedoms we all enjoy. America consumers when buying something as simple as potato chips will expect the chips to be fresh and if not they will demand their money back. The bags will even say satisfaction guaranteed. I believe a lot of people have the mind set of "let's at least try it" all the while thinking to them selves, "we can just return it if it does not work". People you have to understand this is a one time deal. The entire infrastructure of health care and taxation will change forever. Maybe the change will be wonderful but WHY the rush? Slow down and do it right. Everyone of you expect to put lots thought,time and research into everyday purchases; but then you are willing to PAY for a plan that you do not what the costs are ,how it will effect you and if it will even work ? To be blindly against something is as silly as blindly supporting it. Demand a full accounting, demand the details and please remember NOTHING is ever FREE. Please put more informed thought into the health care debate than you do in buying potato chips. . . You CAN NOT return the health care plan if it does not work or costs to much.